Chapter 3

A Cave

Somewhere in the Red Sea

A man sat in the dark cave, waiting. He knew that one day a pearl of the sea would come for the treasure that waited just out of sight. Until that day came, the treasure must be guarded at all costs.

He was a cursed man, doomed to sit in the cave for eternity because of the pact he had made to escape death. If he had only known that death would have been preferable to this interminable darkness.

He stared at the golden door. The door that led to the greatest treasure in the world. Ali Baba's treasure. Hidden after he had escaped the Forty Thieves and had taken enough gold to survive on. After his death, the location of the cave was lost forever.

Only one person had the key to the cave, passed along through the generations, and that was the pearl. The pearl was the only person who could locate the cave, untouched for hundreds of years. And with the key, the pearl would unlock the door and uncover the treasure.

The man knew his duty was to ensure the pearl did this of their own free will. If anyone intervened, he was to eliminate them. That was the pact he had made with Anubis. Once he full-filled his duties he could finally sink into death.

"The pearl grows closer to destiny," a voice rumbled through the cave.

"I will not fail you," whispered the man.

The Black Pearl

Margot sat in the shade on the deck, sketching in her notebook. Every once in a while she would glance past the men she was sketching to where her father and Johnny Sparrow stood at the helm.

She toyed with her necklace as she watched her father hand Johnny something. When she realized what it was, she threw down her notebook, startling the men working on deck, and stormed over to them.

"Margot, love…" started Jack as he pushed Johnny's hand behind his back.

"Da. What's that you're hiding?" seethed Margot.

"Hiding? Sun gone to your head? John and I be having a private chat," replied Jack as he turned Margot around, "Now why don't you lay down".

Margot kicked backwards, hitting Jack's shin. As he hopped around in pain she grabbed Johnny's hand and ripped the compass out of it.

"Your forbidden compass, Da? Really?" growled Margot, waving it in his face, "You let no one touch it for years, not even me, your own daughter. And now this idiot gets a chance?"

Johnny tried to snatch it back, "I'm no idiot, Margot. Your father needed my help".

"Help with what? You've never needed help before," questioned Margot.

Jack started to respond but then stared as the compass's needle started going crazy, "Hold it flat Margot".

Margot did as he asked and the needle spun around several more times before settling in a south easterly direction.

Jack Sparrow stared at the compass and then looked up at his daughter who was looking at her hand in shock. He gently pried the compass out of her hand and when he held it the needle pointed straight towards Margot. He handed it to Johnny and the same thing happened. Johnny handed it back to Margot, and the needle settled in the same south easterly direction as before.

"Looks like we're headed south east," muttered Jack shaking his head and calling out to the men.

As they changed direction, Margot started to walk away but Jack stopped her, "Love, you're our navigator. Stay put".

Later that night, Johnny was on watch. As he paced the deck, he watched as Margot continued to stare at the compass, changing their direction every once in a while. She stifled a yawn and then saw him watching her.

"Penny?" she raised her eyebrow.

"I was just thinking maybe we got off on the wrong foot," replied Johnny as he walked over to her.

Margot smirked, "Here I thought we were peachy".

Johnny opened his mouth to respond and she stopped him, "You're right. I'm sorry. I don't trust pirates much".

"I'm not a pirate. I'm a gentleman".

"Aye, well I trust them even less. And Turner? I think you can consider yourself both".

Johnny grinned and leaned against the railing, "A gentleman pirate? I like the sound of that".

"A gentleman pirate with nefarious tendencies," commented Margot.

He pushed himself off the railing and came closer, "You know, you have to be the only girl in the Caribbean that hasn't fallen for my numerous charms".

"Best think twice about showing me such 'numerous charms'. Have you met Smitty?" glared Margot.

"You don't scare me. You think you do, but you don't. You intrigue me," smiled Johnny as he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Margot blushed and took a step closer, "Intrigue you how?"

Johnny bent closer so that their lips were mere inches apart, "A lady pirate. A distracting combination of sexy and sweet".

Margot made a sound and when he went to kiss her, the air rushed out of him. He lay panting on the ground holding his stomach.

"Next time it'll be your manly bits," warned Margot, stepping over him and heading inside.

Johnny cursed under his breath and stood up, "I need to get myself a woman".

The next morning, Margot sat down to breakfast with Jack.

"I'm convinced the compass is leading us across the Atlantic," she commented, toying with her fork.

"Lass, I think you may be onto something," muttered Jack as he examined the maps.

"Do we intend to follow the compass that far?"

"It hasn't failed me yet, love".

"We'll need to stop for supplies then".

Jack looked up smiling, "Tortuga".

Margot sighed and slumped in her seat, "Aye, Tortuga".

Cheers erupted all over The Black Pearl as Jack made the announcement that they'd be stopping by Tortuga for supplies.

"Now lads. The treasure we be searching for rests across the Atlantic Ocean. If you be unprepared for that trip then you be left in Tortuga, savvy?"

The men turned to each other and started whispering. Jack yelled over the noise, "Enough of that then. Get me ship ready to sail".

Johnny helped Mr. Gibbs with the sails, "Tortuga. I've always wanted to visit".

Gibbs chuckled, "Aye. Tortuga is many a boy's dream. Best be careful, young Turner".

"Oh? Why's that?" asked Johnny.

"Tis a pricey place. Drinks, woman, all costly. Be careful ye don't waste yer money," warned Mr. Gibbs.

"One night with a woman before months at sea with a bunch of men and her," he pointed to Margot at the helm, "Any amount of coin is well worth that".

Mr. Gibbs shook his head as he watched Margot punched Red Robert in the jaw, "Don't blame ye lad".

Up at the helm, Jack Sparrow had stopped Margot from further injuring Robert, "Love, that temper of yours…"

"Must get it from mum," smirked Margot, "So. Do I get to go ashore this time?"

Jack sighed, "Tortuga is no place for you Margot. Only the men on this ship be scared of you. The men in Tortuga…"

"I can take care of myself, Da. I just would like to stretch my legs on land for once".

"We'll see," replied Jack as he pushed her away, "Go do something useful".

Margot cursed and slid down the railing, grabbing her sketch book and clambering up to the crow's nest. Her necklace felt hot around her neck and she glanced at it briefly. She did a double-take as it appeared to glow in her hands. But the glow soon faded and she rubbed her eyes, sure that it had been her imagination.

She let her necklace fall back inside her shirt. She looked down and her eyes settled on Johnny. She smiled slightly as she began to sketch him.